Kris Meeke comfortably triumphed on his first visit to the Otago International Classic Rally in New Zealand over the weekend to add his name to an illustrious list of former champions.
With Noel O’Sullivan on the pace notes recorded multiple fastest times during the course of the two-day Dunedin-based event to triumph by over three minutes and finished a respectable 7th overall in the event despite being in a Ford MK2 Escort.
Another local competitor Richie Dalton finished 4th in class with New Zealand co-driver Lisa Hudson in another MK2 Escort.
His victory sees the ex-Citroen Racing and Toyota Gazoo Racing driver join Scotsman Jimmy McRae, Estonian Markko Martin and Finland’s Mikko Hirvonen in gracing the top step of the rally’s podium.
Overall victory went to local competitor Jack Hawkeswood in a R5 spec Toyota Yaris.